31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Four} Exploring the world

Children are naturally self centered. December is traditionally a time when we try to encourage service projects with our children. It’s a time for them to think of others.

Things like cleaning out their toys

Donating to a shelter

Choosing a family from the Angel Tree.

Operation Christmas child.

{Image Credit}
It’s also one of the busist times of the year. So with all good intentions we don’t always get to do these things. Me too. This year we didn’t get to participate in the Operation Christmas Child or deliver our Christmas cookies to our neighbours. Somethings just had to give. However the concept of doing things for other people shouldn’t be just for December. If we forgot, didn’t have a chance etc neither should we let the guilt haunt us. Just find another avenue that’ll work for you and your family.

Expanding their horizons and letting them experiences different things outside their ( and often our) comfort zones gets the conversation flowing and the mind changing.

Young children need it.

6 Ways to Explore the World with your Children

Investigate cultures and festivals where you live?

Three of our favourite festivals in Italy were the mushroom, cheese and basket festival. They were three different festivals. Who knew there were so many different type of each though? If it wasn’t for the 100s of people walking past our house perhaps we wouldn’t have gone. I mean- a mushroom festival? Really? Living in Italy we embraced weekend festivals. You learnt so much. It was fun.

Country fairs :: local museums :: Visit the tourist office online or in person and find the kid friendly places to visit:: visit a farm:: learn some history- why is your town on the map- who were the pioneers and where did they live? When is the popular festival in your area?

Expand your friendship groups to include diversity

We get comfortable really quickly in our friendship groups. Having moved around a fair bit, I have been on the outside a lot looking in on groups. We choose and become friends because we have a situation, feelings, beliefs in common. How diverse are your children’s friends? Say let’s ask a tricky question- how diverse is your group of friends?

New friends ( ‘known’ for less than a year)

Friends

Old friends ( ‘known for more than 5 years)

Where are these friends?

local

online

playgroups

school

church/ book club/ class etc

How diverse in age, race, country and experience?

Travel locally not just when people come to visit

Get to know your local area by getting out in it. Explore your local area online as well through Google earth and blogs.